Double propeller wind driven spark producer



June 18, 1957 T. E. HUGHES 2,795,894

DOUBLE PROPELLER WIND DRIVEN SPARK PRODUCER Filed Sept. 11, 1950 mvsmom:

United States Patent DOUBLE PROPELLER WIND DRIVEN SPARK PRODUCER ThomasE. Hughes, Miami, Fla.

Application September 11, 1950, Serial No. 184,238

3 Claims. (Cl. 46-48) The present invention relates to an improvement indouble propeller Wind driven spark producers, reference being made toapplication for Letters Patent filed in the United States Patent Ofliceby this inventor, Thomas E. Hughes, dated August 16, 1950, Serial No.179,699, but which has since been abandoned.

The main object and purpose of this invention in double propeller winddriven spark producer is to provide a toy and an attachment for toyswhich is suitable for use at night.

One advantage found in this new invention is the simplicity ofconstruction. it is composed of four simple parts, and may be assembledby a child. There are many possible uses for it such as attached to arubber ball as shown in Figure 2 and as a propeller for a toy airplane.The turning of the propellers of this new invention causes sparks to bemade, and the flight of a toy airplane equipped with this new inventionmay be followed by sight even at night. This will also hold true if thisnew invention is attached to a kite. When attached to a kite that isflown at night it gives the appearance of a shooting star. On a twostick kite one or three of these double propeller wind driven sparkproducers may be used, while on a three stick kite four or two may beused.

This new invention may be installed on almost every type of motor driventoy. It may be attached to toy boats, toy automobiles, and may even beattached to bicycles and motorcycles where it will provide an additionalsafety feature when used at night.

The sparks which are created by the movement of the propellers of thisnew invention may be viewed from a distance of approximately one-quartermile. If the propellers are translucent or transparent and are made ofcolors the sparks created behind the propellers will assume the color ofthe propellers. Therefore if the propellers are red the sparks willappear red when viewed from the front. Wind will not blow the sparks outand tests have proven the flints will last approximately fortyfiveminutes When used constantly. Thus, this invention may also be used fora signalling device.

An even further use for this new invention is found in its attachment toa stick, rod or ball. By whipping the stick, rod or ball through the airsparks are caused to fly from the invention with each whipping action.

Apart from its attractiveness, one of the most important features ofthis new invention is the safety of its use. Although the rotation ofthe propellers cause sparks to fly there are no harmful efiects. Manytests have been made on toy airplanes, sticks, kites, balls, and othertoys and it has been found to be safe in every respect.

With these and other advantages to be pointed out as we proceed I referto the drawing in which like parts are denoted by the same referencecharacters throughout the several views, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the double propeller wind drivenspark producer.

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of same, shown as being attached toa rubber ball.

Referring more particularly to the figures:

19 represents the pin shaft upon which all the other parts areassembled. As shown in the drawing, the propeller 35 and the propellerrotate opposite one to the other, said opposite rotation of thepropellers being due to the opposite pitch thereof. Either propeller maybe the counter-rotating one, but to simplify the explanation, propeller15, as viewed from the bottom of Figure l, rotates counter-clockwisewhile propeller 35 rotates clockwlse.

At point 36 the emery disc pad 17 is glued, or other- W186 attached tothe propeller 35. A flint holder 16, having flints 21 and prongs 20attached thereto, is placed on the pin 19 to allow the flints 21 to bein a position to contact the flint pad 17, while the propeller 15 isplaced on the pin 19 between the prongs 20. The assembly of the parts onthe pin 19 is as follows: First the propeller 35 is placed on the pin 19adjacent the head 22, which prevents its removal thereof, then the flintholder is placed, and lastly the propeller 15. The prongs 20 are for thepurpose of causing the flints 21 to rotate opposite in direction to theemery pad 17 thus causing a double movement of the flints 21 against theemery pad 17. The additional friction supplied by the rotation of thepropellers in opposite directions greatly increases the efliciency ofthe invention and creates more sparks.

The rubber ball 37, shown in Figure 2, is provided with a string 38which allows the ball to be swung in a circle or in other ways, ifdesired. This embodiment of the invention is shown as being attached bypressing the point of the pin 19 into the ball.

By making the pin shaft 19 longer, more than one of these doublepropeller wind driven spark producers may be placed on the one pinshaft, with a resulting increase ,in the spark display.

What I claim is:

1. A wind driven spark producer having a pin shaft; two propellers, saidtwo propellers constructed to rotate in a direction opposite one to theother; an emery pad attached to one of the said propellers; a U-shapedflint holder; flints attached to one side of the said flint holder;prongs attached to the opposite side of the said flint holder, saidprongs fitting one on each side of the other of said propellers; andsaid propellers, emery pad, and flint holder having means receiving thepin shaft therethrough.

2. In a wind driven spark producer, the pin shaft, one clockwiserotating propeller; one counter-clockwise rotating propeller; an emerypad attached to the clockwise rotating propeller; a flint holder; flintsattached to the flint holder; prongs attached to the flint holder on theside opposite to the flints there being one prong on each side of thecounterclockwise rotating propeller; means provided in the propellers,the emery pad, and the flint holder receiving the pin shafttherethrough.

3. In a wind driven spark producer, a pin shaft; one end of said pinshaft having a point, the other end of said pin shaft having a flange; aclockwise rotating propeller mounted on the pin shaft adjacent theflange; an emery pad glued to the center part of the clockwise rotatingpropeller on the side facing the pointed end of the said pin shaft; aflint holder mounted on the said pin shaft adjacent the said emery pad,flints attached to the side of the said flint holder adjacent the saidemery pad, prongs attached to the said flint holder on the side oppositesaid flints, and a counterclockwise rotating propeller mounted on thesaid pin shaft between the said prongs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,481,826 Brown Ian. 29, 1924 1,554,065 Blair Sept. 15, 1925 1,619,689Aronson Mar. 1, 1927 2,035,629 Wing Mar. 31, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS469,266 Germany Dec. 11, 1928

